EAGLE POST 131 April 2017: EAGLE POST - The newsletter of Friends of Eagles Nest Wilderness, apprising you of important activities in and around Eagles Nest, Holy Cross, and Ptarmigan Wilderness Areas.
Greetings!
Our topic this month: Future of Eagles Nest

Introduction: This is the not-quite-final panel in the tryptich about the White River Forest Service's management plan for high use Wilderness areas. In the first installment, in February, Bill Reed described the despair that many campers feel when encountering over-used Wilderness campsites. Then, in March, Kay Hopkins' outlined the carefully crafted "adaptive" plan to limit traffic by requiring overnight permits in Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness.
This month (April) was to be the third installment, an introduction to the plan for managing Eagles Nest Wilderness (ENW). The ENW plan, however, is not quite ready for prime time, so please stay tuned... In the meantime, our reporter from Phaque News has gleaned some interesting information via illegal leaks and other clandestine activities, appropriate for this special day.

THE FUTURE OF EAGLES NEST
-by April Phule

SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, May 20 is the first celebration of Colorado Public Lands Day.
Colorado is the first state in the nation to pass a bill of this type, bringing attention to the myriad opportunities about public lands. The auction will begin at 10 AM. "Everything will be on the block," said guest auctioneer Jason Shovits. "While land currenlty referred to as 'National Park' contains parcels that are especially coveted by bidders," Shovits explained, "purchasers of the less-desirable BLM lands will be reimbursed for half their purchase price." Door prizes include Lily Pad Lake and Missouri Lakes.

GROWING POWELL: Work on the new gravel pits slated for the Lower Blue River Valley will begin in the summer of 2017 at Slate Creek. However, the quarries will have a relatively short lifetime, says Chief Engineer Sunit Skye. "We are partnering with Summit County Landfill," explained Skye, "who will be moving their operation down the Blue, and we'll have those gravel pits filled before too long." Sunit will be seeking assistance from volunteers to move the mined gravels. "If we can add 414 feet to the top of Mt. Powell, then Eagles Nest will have its first fourteener. That should attract thousands of new hikers," he enthused.

FACTORY OUTLET stores will be expanding to each of the eighteen trail heads that are entry points for Eagles Nest and Holy Cross Wilderness Areas. Says Silverthorne Town Council member Marge Lounge, "No worries anymore if you forget your socks, Jura Impressa, or Chateau Margaux '82 as you prepare for your Wilderness experience. Just pick them up at the trail head." She further noted, "The new Walmart will sell a 'Wilderness Experience Kit' with earphones and a VR headset," she said. "Guests can then pause briefly at the lounge in the store, before getting on with their shopping."

BOOTH CREEK TRAIL will be getting some needed attention. Ranger Mikela Playa said in a statement, "After years of overuse, neglect, and despoilment, the Booth Creek Trail finally will be paved." However, it was learned that plans are delayed due to protests by "a few disgruntled Gen-Xers" in Ranger Playa's words, who insist that heating coils be installed in the pavement.

WALL: The Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness adaptive management plan will be extended to Eagles Nest, with one addition. USFS engineer Andy Jakkson said, "My great-grandaddy knew something about getting rid of people he don't like, and we'll do the same to hikers. We will build a wall around Eagles Nest." He later added, "And we'll make them pay the construction costs."

BIKING: Garden lights will be installed along the length of the Gore Range Trail. "They will make is easer for bicyclists to gain access to pristine locations after dark," explained Forest Service Manager E. Bert Sindee.

WATER: The Denver Water Board is planning to revisit its original plan to channel water from all the streams in Eagles Nest to Dillon Resevoir. Says planner Jeremy Blokhead, "As a compromise, we plan a water feature with tubing down the gentle canals that will drain both sides of the Wilderness."

DOGS OFF LEASH: Fran Goodfellow is leading a campaign that proposes to detect dogs off leash with smart drones. "The drones will deal with each situation immediately, with, um, 'extreme prejudice'," says Goodfellow.

About April Phule: April is a freelance journalist whose professional techniques are inspiring today's new troupe of newsgatherers. To the recent question on the cover of Time magazine ("Is Truth Dead?"), April gives a resounding and cheerul "Yes - no, I really mean it - Yes!."

Our Secretary-Treasurer, George Resseguie, is stepping down after a decade of exemplary service. HELP US FIND A REPLACEMENT! Send us your suggestions (link).

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2016 Trail projects:
We spent two weekends at alpine lakes and obliterated 54 illegal campfire rings. Join our crews in 2017!
DetailsOur Volunteer Wilderness Rangers contacted more than 11,000 hikers in 2016? Join us this summer!Details
We also need volunteers

September: "Toward a Natural Forest" by Jim Furnish
Join us! for our next Planning MeetingThursday, Apil 27, 5:30 PM, Silverthorne >> MAPDetails at www.fenw.org/
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